Reds fire English flame in Europe
GARY LINEKER believes Liverpool have kicked the door open for English clubs to be regular Champions League finalists.
Although the Reds lost 3-1 to Euro kings Real Madrid in the Kiev final, Lineker has seen enough to suggest English success in the Champions League is not too far away.
Before Liverpool reached the final in Ukraine’s Olympic Stadium, they were the first English team in six years to contest the showpiece game since Chelsea beat Bayern Munich in 2012.
BT sports presenter Lineker said: “There has been a gradual shift towards a bigger English presence.
“Certainly, there has been an improvement in the performances of our teams in Europe this season.
“You can see it with the evolution of Manchester City, obviously with Liverpool, and the other big clubs.
Force
“It will lead to a greater presence in the latter stages than we’ve had for a few years.
“Yes, Barcelona are getting a little bit old.
“They’re not the force they were a few years ago and Real Madrid, perhaps, are coming to the end of their brilliant cycle.
“But at the moment you have to say that La Liga is still dominant, and Madrid still the best team in Europe, because Spanish clubs have won something like 12 out of 18 of the last European trophies.
“And it’s not just Barcelona and Real.
“Atletico have just won the Europa League and have been in the Champions League final, while Sevilla have won the Europa League multiple times.
“For me, it’s a myth that the Spanish league is all about the top two. It isn’t.
“So we’ve still got a way to go, but English clubs have closed the gap massively.”